Crack

This intimate musical shindig in Cornwall attracts an array of young crusties, topless lesbians, vibrant UK live acts and a DJ that couldn’t use iTunes if your Grandma’s 70th birthday party depended on it.

Located at the door of the deep southwest, Saltash isn’t known as a musical mecca, but the guys behind Knee Deep have provided a cheap, quirky and hugely fun festival that’s as grassroots as Charlie Dimmock’s bra.

Knee Deep has only been running for two years, so luckily they don’t have Bono hitting the mainstage and instead prefer (or have no choice) to concentrate on what’s fresh and relatively new to the UK scene. The line-up boasted more than 40 bands over two days, including the likes of Laurel Collective, Peers, Tall Ships and three bands all with the word Wolf in their title. This charmingly odd festival provides sanctuary, in a time where people are angry enough to loot Poundland, as it’s more reminiscent of an afternoon at your auntie's. Toffee apples, cupcakes and games of table tennis were all on offer and before it sounds too lame, so was some good strong ale and scantily clad flesh - hopefully something that wouldn’t remind you of your auntie’s.

For £18 the festival spoils you with a beautiful campsite and some amazing bands that are still too underrated for our liking. The Dufflefolks played an early set on the sunlit stage and, contrary to this year’s wank summer weather, the stage was in fact sunlit, which provided a fitting backdrop for them to dish out some chilled, folky electro pop. Southwest locals Patrick James Pearson Band followed the relaxing tunes by stepping it up a gear with charging keyboard-led melodies laced with Bowie-esque jabbering.

Other stand out performances came from Tall Ships, who displayed their own brand of energetic harmonies and a Robbie William’s epic to keep their mums, who they had brought on tour, happy. Laurel Collective demonstrated why they were one of the headline acts by living up to the billing with their unique summer party sound. Their eclectic mix of instruments and gleeful voices was given extra momentum with their offbeat percussion, making it hard to not get caught up in their positively enthusiastic set.

The only downfall was after a performance such as this, the booze slips down quicker and the need to dance becomes greater. However, the atmosphere was butchered in one of the dance tents when one of the world’s worst DJs began to entertain pissed individuals in the Jam tent. The Pokémon theme tune, Roxanne being cut off half way through and other wanker DJ traits were as enjoyable as losing your phone down one of the portaloos. It must be said that this was a mere blip to what was otherwise a musical bargain.



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Words: Ben Perks

http://www.kneedeepfestival.co.uk/index.html

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